Eggless Vanilla Almond Cake

 The cake is simple to bake without the electric beater...the batter should not be over beaten and it must be gently folded...The cake is crumbly and dense in texture.Use fine quality of vanilla essence that makes the cake tastes better.

Ingredients

Maida-1 and half cup

Sugar-3/4 cup(powdered)

Fresh curd-1 cup

Oil-1/2 cup

Almond slices-50 gms

Baking powder-1 tsp

Baking soda-half tsp

Vanilla essence-half tsp

Method

1.Mix the flour,baking powder and baking soda.

2.Sieve the flour for 2-3 times and set them aside

3.Pour a cup of fresh curd in a vessel

4.Grind the 3/4 cup of sugar into fine powder

Add the sugar to the curd

Add the half tsp of vanilla essence

Add the half cup of oil to the curd

Stir the wet ingredients well until the sugar is almost dissolved

Sieve the flour directly into the curd mixture,gently mix it with ladle to incorporate all the ingredients

Grease a cake pan with butter followed by dusting with all purpose flour and tap the pan to remove excess flour...Pour the batter and spread it evenly...Sprinkle the almonds on top

Bake it in a preheated oven(for 10 mins) at 180*C for 20 minutes.Insert a tooth pick/knife at centre ,if it comes out clean,Its done!.Otherwise,continue to bake for another 5-10 minutes

Vangi bath/Brinjal Rice

Back after my week trip to my hometown thanjavur.I still cherish the days now and i miss my mom's food and local ingredients/food too ;-)  There are hundered types of brinjal available and the one we get in city is all genetically modified.I prefer organic small town vegetables untouched by any chemical zoombies and not induced to grow in less span of time..Last 2 weeks,i didnt cook much since its only for me to eat,but friends gave organic brinjals ,mangoes and beetroots..I made one pot meal by neighbor's recipe...

Ingredients

Brinjal,chopped-1 cup

Mustard-1 tsp

Asofoedia-half tsp

Cinnamon-1 "inch(optional)

Cloves-3(optional)

Broken urad dal-half tsp

Curry leaves-10 nos

Onion,sliced-1-2 nos

Turmeric powder-half tsp

Cooked rice-2 cups

Salt to taste

Sesame oil-4-5 tbsp

To powder 

Bengal gram-2 tbsp

Coriander seeds-1 tbsp

Coconut-2 tbsp

Red Chillies-3-4 nos

Method

1.Roast the bengal gram to brown and the coriander seeds for two minutes followed by red chilli 

2.Grind the ingredients into powder and leave some coarsely...

3.Heat a pan ,add the sesame oil,mustard seeds,urad dal and curry leaves,saute for a minute

4.Add the onions ,saute for couple of minutes

5.Add the chopped brinjals

6.Add turmeric powder and salt,close the lide and allow it to cook for 4-5 minutes,until brinjal is tender and well cooked

7.Add the masala powder and a tsp of lime juice or half tsp of tamarind exact

Add the cooked rice and stir gently to combine the ingredients..Close the lid and cook in lowest heat 3-4 minutes

Double Chocolate Cookies

When it comes to cookies at home,the love is more than for a cake.Both hansika and her dad likes munching some cookies after dinner..Hans likes all version of buttery soft crumble cookies and big fan of this expresso cookies..But I like cookies which is more chocolatey and crunchy in every bite..Finally and after a long research on recipes,i conclude for these browny cookies actually tastes like brownies...When i made it,I gave a sample to my baker friend ,ayeesha riaz who is versatile in cooking gave thumbs up..She also gives true verdict whenever i try something new!!..

Inspired from here

Ingredients

Maida/All purpose flour-2 and half cup

Sugar-1 cup

Brown sugar-1 cup

Cocoa-3/4 cup

Butter-1 cup

Eggs-2

Vanilla essence-1 tsp

Baking soda-1 tsp

Salt-1/2 tsp

Chocolate chip(Milk and Dark)-2 and half cup

Method

1.Beat butter,sugar and brown sugar for 3-4 minutes

2.Add  eggs and vanilla essence to it

3.Add the cocoa , flour , baking soda and salt 

5.Beat slowly to incorporate the ingredients

6.Add the chocolate chips and fold the dough gently to mix it evenly

7.Scoop the dough or roll it into ball and place it in baking tray with 2 inches spaces left in between.

8.Bake it in preheated oven in 170*C for 10 to 15 minutes

I have pressed some almond shelves ,the cookies will spread like magic and gives a crunchy cookies..